On The Green - Rochford Wineries
We learned a new, ironically ambiguous nickname for Leonard Cohen.
The Prince of precision, Leonard Cohen, graced the Rochford winery in the Yarra Valley …1
We learned a new simile for Leonard Cohen, albeit certainly not a new characterization of him.
Leonard Cohen is like a horse whisperer, only for women2
We learned, in fact, that some things never change.
Even at 74, the dapper rogue could provoke sighs from women in the audience at Rochford Winery last night with his courtly songs of sex and regret. When he growled his sleazy 1988 classic I’m Your Man, women leapt from their picnic blankets to yell: “Yes, you are!” (Griffin)
We learned, for the 64,395th time, that Cohen is a funny man.
Cohen is a funny man. (Griffin)
We learned the voice with which Cohen was born is not only golden but bejeweled.
Cohen’s baritone is, as he cheerfully admits, a rough diamond. (Griffin)
We learned that Leonard is still running, skipping, dancing, …
… he literally skipped on and off stage between sets, swung tight-fisted like Sinatra during musical interludes, and performed a “white man dance” (Griffin)
We learned that, in fact, Leonard Cohen seems to have become quite the showoff.
After the first set Leonard runs of stage whilst doing some small high kicks! (Geisel)
We learned Cohen has not conceded Hallelujah to coverage.
Hallelujah came halfway through the second set. Cohen fell to his knees to wrest his best-known song back from all the artists who have covered it — Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, UK Idol’s Alexandra Burke — and rediscovered its wild, black heart. (Griffin)
We learned the identity of the “master of breath.”3
Dean on sax who is the master of breath we’re told… (Geisel)
We learned why the Australians were prepared for Cohen.
This is Leonard’s first tour of Australia in 24 years, so naturally the crowd are ready to hear his music. 4 (Geisel)
We learned the audience seems to have liked the man.
After almost every song the crowd erupts from their seats with applause, some punters are in tears over the music. (Geisel)
Whilst watching him I cannot help but feel blessed at seeing such a humble and passionate man. (Geisel)
… whooping applause (Griffin)
… he charmed us, he moved us (Griffin)
We learned what bloggers think about during concerts
Whilst watching the show I see flocks of ducks fly overhead and cockatoos screeching above the crowd – are they too enjoying the beautiful music that fills the sky tonight? (Geisel)
Bonus: What did we learn from the Leonard Cohen Wellington Concert?
We learned that the New Zealanders’ legendary capacity to retain urine has sadly diminished.
Human behaviour never fails to render me speechless, which is how the TSB Arena staff in Wellington should have been on Tuesday night at the Leonard Cohen concert. I’ve waited 38 years to see Cohen in concert, and we paid good money to hear three hours of the legend singing and reciting his poetry. But would the ushers shut up? Not blimmin’ likely, especially when Sam Hunt was on stage before Cohen came on.This is a terrible venue at the best of times, but the rude people who arrived late and then brayed to each other at the bar just outside the open doors made it impossible to concentrate on Hunt’s performance. Then when these disrespectful and thoughtless patrons decided to grace the audience with their presence, the staff yabbered away in loud voices at the doorway, prompting numerous complaints. Not that they cared – “no we weren’t” was one response to a patron telling them, gently, that they might stop making so much noise.
And what has happened to the modern Kiwi bladder? People were going in and out, back and forth, from 7.30 when Hunt came on, until 11.30 when Cohen finally allowed the cheering crowd to let him retire. Ban the ubiquitous water bottle. If men and women can’t last four hours without a toilet stop, then they’ll have to go thirsty.5
Video From The Leonard Cohen Rochford Winery Concert
The camera angle is suboptimal, but the this segment, beginning with the “Just a kid with a crazy dream … pharmaceutical recitation … but cheerfulness kept breaking through” sequence, extending through the reference to the specific location of the concert, and segueing into the performance of Anthem (which is abruptly ended before the song’s conclusion) nicely demonstrates Leonard Cohen connecting with the audience.
- Green Grass, Sunshine, Wine and Leonard Cohen by Lyn Geisel. Melbourne Live. January 25, 2009. Hereafter “Geisel.” [↩]
- Still Plenty Of Life In This Ladies’ Man by Michelle Griffin. The Age. January 25, 2009. Hereafter “Griffin” [↩]
- Which would seem a handy piece of knowledge should one become, for instance, breathless. [↩]
- One wonders what would have happened if Cohen had returned after only 23 years. [↩]
- Deborah Coddington: Tales of bad manners and bitchy babes By Deborah Coddington. New Zealand Herald. [↩]
That video is mine – and though the camera angle might be “sub-primal” we also learnt from the Leonard Cohen show at Coldtream that standing is not allowed.
The show was magnificent
I have about 6 song videos on my youtube channel
http://au.youtube.com/user/pizt
Sorry I misread your quote, my monitor decided to stop working last night, I am squinting at it right now, I think the back light has gone as it went very dark. “Sub-Optimal” sounds fine